November 24, 2008 - Representatives of the 160 countries that have ratified the 2003 World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control have been meeting in Durban, South Africa to discuss guidelines on the implementation of the treaty.

Among the proposals under consideration is a move towards generic or plain cigarette packs, with standardized colors, fonts and "only the most objective information," including a very large health warning, according to Heather Selin of the Framework Convention secretariat.

The FCTC treaty requires nations that have ratified the convention to ban all tobacco advertising and promotion. In the face of these restrictions, tobacco packaging has become the key promotional vehicle for the tobacco industry to interest smokers and potential smokers in tobacco products.

British (United Kingdom, UK) have been considering banning logos on cigarette packs, other measures.. Tobacco Journal International, September 2, issue reports that according to tobacco analyst, David Adelman from Morgan Stanley, if generic packaging becomes a legal requirement in the UK, not only could it have a domino effect on other markets, but it could also have an adverse impact on cigarette brand equity (and) could result in considerably reduced profits. Not only would a standardization of cigarette packaging drive down pricing and put an end to the appeal of premium cigarettes, which carry higher profit margins, but it would also lead to a rise in illicit cigarette trade." ('Plain packets' law to strip cigarettes of their glamour Tobacco industry is worried that a ban on branded cigarette packaging would undermine its sales by Denis Campbell, guardian.co.uk)